Public Schools' Scripture Classes.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 10016, 5 December 1908, Page 4

Public Schools' Scripture Classes.

DISTRIRUTION OF PRIZES. | A large and enthusiastic gathering of j . hildreifand adults t-'ok flaw last even- | in" in the Opera iiuuse, the occasion be- j in!; tin annual distribution of prizes in ; connection with the Scripture i lasses ol | ti- public schools of the tinvn. Hi.- Wor- i .-lup tiie Muvor iMr R. Miliigan) presided, and was supported on tiie platform by the K. -,s. li. J. Porter. F. '•■ Iluc.-unghani, | 1. N. Griffin. .1. ti. S. Rartlctt. T. H. j i:...-.veare. Mr 1. 11. Mathe-son.. Mr L:ud-J .-.iv da adlmister North School), and seve- | ia" ..:' the 10. ai members •>: the school com j in- "meeting was opened with one ot | ti..- i hi.ir.n .- hvmn.- and the Lord's, j I'tavel- bv the Rev." -Mr l'.altlett. A p'eilS- | i"j;";eature •.!' tiie evening was the hearty lui in • of th.- M.-liohirs "i tweral of their and tn- c-pe.;ud action pieces ot ti".- North and Mhidi- SeiiooU. 'ltie latter ti-m- h..i t., !,- rei.-at i. A 5..10 ua, : al.v> rendu.-.! iy Mr V. .lame.. in.- Mavor. upon !>-in. intiodu.-ed as | chairman '"» '- 'th- Re\- >"' l'orter. pre.ddeii; ..:" till .-xpr«ved ins than.-;a to ti.e As-0.-iatiou tor being lu-vit-ii to at mo iuterestine; and important a -itherin..'. For long he ha,i L.-n d.-.-pU-"interested in tiie work carried on ii .o-in'.-iion with the Scripture classes 111 the puodc se-hooL- ot the town. It v is a -..ii which he leit sliouUi coinin'.ud' It'.-.et" to every loyal citizen. At this .-ta.e in- read, an upoayy tor aitenee iroui --ii MLrier, rector <ji the Iligb School. lie tiieii coiitimi...t to say tnat whatever dr.ei-ity mUiit prevail apon al to the i.ee.-.-sitv ol religious instruction 'I her- w.is unanimity upon t-heoe tvoi.oir:.- the uccessitv ot sucii training mid tnat it should be carried on by the nini-ter- ot r. ii ion- He ventuied the op'iniuii that m. child was fully e.itiippe.i /itiiout reli.ioiis educauon. lie atuniKci thai tin- S.lipture ot the Old and New 'Lj-taiueius exerted ;i uniuue iutlueiice up-

ii-iTnim-iiU. The ureatcat infiutiiee in im I'liun'' i-t-;i-i..us"insti-.'.i;tii.n had to he exerted" in tuc home. However vaiuankth- vniv '>: the minister it should only U-~ reiirded a* supplementary to that ol the home, but it iv;ib to be leartd tliat in manv'homes this duty was uttcr.y m-.-l-ct.d. heme tiie ureal value ol the ■a-oi-k; .lone in the.-*.- Scripture clasps. Lie undenominational character of the woik commended itself to him, and he tnough, ;il<.< to all interested. It was very grants in' to know that there was such harinoiw anion,' those conducting these ckisA-s. He thought that great civdit was, due to the comniittees lor allowing these classes, to he conducted in the .-chooss and to the teachers for the hearty sympathy they had shown with the movement. Jie felt that the success of the Scripture dieses in '-amaru was a grand oi.ject- : lesson to the rest of the Dominion, lie lartuer expressed approval w.th the_ arrangements tor the distribution ol prizes. An '""interesting address was concluded with expressions of gratification at the woik which had been done during the past vear. His Worship resanud lil, scat amn. iie.irtv applause. Tho Kev. 11. J. I'orter, who was most cuidii'l.v received, said he would not speak \:.:is. "bin he could not help referring to the%erv friendly relation that had been maintained between the children and himself daring the four and a-hali years the clu.-ses had been in existence in Camarii. lie faience was made to the origin of the present movement in Xelsou some years J-o and to Hawke's Bay as the district that had been the first to follow the example of Xekon. Over four years ago the matter was, taken up in Oamaru by the Ministers" As.-kk.-i at ion. which m us efforts had been most sympathetically assisted bv the various committees and teachers." Since then the work had been consistently and successfully carried on. Four veari ago there were only oo schools with Scripture classes, in the Dominion, two vears ago there were 50.. last year 110, while last June there were 174. He was sanguine that in another year there would be upwards of three hundred such classes, which was a cause for great gratification. Mr I'orter mentioned several leading towns where the movement liad been, taken up and was working happily and satisfactorily. In the back blocks classes were being formed, special mention being made of the zeal in this direction of a young home missionary belonging to his own Church. Me felt that at the present time the outlook was most hopeful. while the work being- done was of a most encouraging character. Concluding, Mr Porter expressed his indelrtedness to the committees, and referred gratefully to the sympathetic interest of Vue headmasters and teachers. The Kev. F. G. Buckingham, who also had a heirty reception, sad that for upwards of two years he had assisted in the Scripture classes before coming to Oamaru. He always counted it a great privilege to assist in this movement, and since residing in this town had the pleasure intensified again and again by its evident success. It was now very apparent that without friction and with great benefit undenominational Scripture teaching could be carried on. He urged the importance of religious training, and regarded the Word of God as the class book of the Christian religion. He especially looked upon this Word as containing the record of the ministry and teaching of the One whose name is above every nam-. He endorsed with much satisfaction Mr Porter's reference to the assistance that had l>ccii rendered to the ministers by the committer, headmasters, and teachers of the \ariou> schools and cofmnt-nded them as examp'es to other parts of the Dominion. Mr T. H. Matheson moved a very cordial vote of thanks to the school committees and headmasters and teachers for their co-operation in the work of the ministers during the year. The vote w-as carried by acclamation. Mr Jas. Mitchell moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, to the examiners, and to the ministers who had conducted the classes. In proposing this vote Mr Mitchell expressed his appreciation of the services of the ministers in the pi.bli_- schools. He had at the first doubts as to the utility of the lia'f-hour per week devoted to the Scripture classes. He was now assured of the success of the work, and had learned that no harm whatever had come to the secular work of the schools. Iliis. had continued to be highly satisfactory in its results. The vote was carried enthusiastically, followed by three hearty cheers for the ministers. The meeting was closed with the closing hymn and the Benediction by the Kev. T. H. Koseveare. • '

I Following is the prize list : ! ""—North School.— Standard Vl.—Frank Tempero 1. Dorothv Henrv 2. Standard V.—Lily Codfrey and Milliceut Cook (equal) 1. Irene Cunningham 2. Standard IV. —Janetta IJ. Young 1. Iw Amies 2. Standard lll.—Madge Crave 1. F.lsie Moscrop and Kate Allan (equal) 2. Standard ll.—.John M. Yoong 1. John MeMrum 2. Standard I.—Kenneth Scoon 1, Clara Crw 2. —Middle School.— Standard Vl.—Elaine North 1. Simkin 2. Standard V.—Winifred Stewart 1. Kathleen Miliigan 2. Standard IV.—Laurel Badolev 1. Olive Wats..n 2. Standard Hl.—Alan Stevenson 1. Phvllis Adam.-..n 2. Kva Kimm 3. Standard ll.—Howard Sumpter 1, William Harper 2. Mavis King 3. -South School.— Standard Vl.—Stewart Cibb 1, Katie Hunter 2. Harold Craw 3. Standard V. Florence Miiteii 1. (jrace Johnston 2. John Lucas 3. Standard IV.—lvy Kean 1. F. M'Kenzie 2. Yvonne Lucas and Eileen Ramsay (••-jtia:) 3